Are You Spreading Germs When You Wash Your Hands?

The assault on hand dryers continues. Scientists from Leeds University, the 8th largest university in the UK, recently completed a study that concluded that hand dryers are worse than paper towels when it comes to spreading germs. Airborne germ counts were 27 times higher around jet air dryers in comparison with the air around paper towel dispensers. The study shows that both jet and warm air hand dryers spread bacteria into the air and onto users and those nearby.

This research was published by the Journal of Hospital Infection. It was also funded by the European Tissue Symposium.